Title: Lola and the Boy Next Dor
Author: Stephanie Perkins
Genre: Young Adult, Romance, Contemporary Fiction
ISBN: 0525423281
Pages: 384
Year: 2011
Publisher: Dutton Juvenile
Source: Personal Collection
Rating: 2/5
Summary:
Lola lives in San Francisco, with her two dads, her crazy sense of style, and her rock star boyfriend who happens to be MUCH older than her 16 years. Then the twin neighbors – Calliope and Cricket – move back and Lola has to deal with the fallout of their friendship from years ago.
My Thoughts:
Oh readers. Lola and the Boy Next Door was such a disappointment for me. Remember, I LOVED Anna and the French Kiss. So my expectations were high. I know Stephanie Perkins can write a good book. But this one…eh.
Lola is almost TOO quirky. Like unrealistically so. Which made it hard for me to relate to her. Sure, I wanted her to end up with the right guy, but it was mostly in a “I’m curious to see how this book gets there so I guess I will keep reading” kind of way. I wouldn’t have been too disappointed if Perkins threw me a twist ending where Lola doesn’t get what she wants.
I automatically hated her actual boyfriend and couldn’t see why she didn’t leave him for the cute boy next door in the third chapter. Which made all of the obstacles in the book seem rather forced.
I almost put this book down. But I can’t say there weren’t parts that I found entertaining. I especially loved that Anna and Etienne have small roles. But if you were an Anna fan, I’m not sure that makes up for the rest of the book. I loved the San Francisco setting. I loved that Lola had two gay dads. And I actually really loved Cricket. I’m just not sure Lola deserves him.
My hope is that Stephanie Perkins’ next book – which I will definitely still be reading – finds its way into my good reading graces a little better than this one did.
Others’ (More Positive) Thoughts: GalleySmith; Presenting Lenore; KellyVision
my books. my life. 
Oh, I can imagine your disappointment when this book didn’t live up to the first, because Anna and the French Kiss has been a favorite among bloggers. You make a really great case for why this one just didn’t work for you, and though I do want to read the first one, I don’t think I will be reading this one. Thanks for your honesty and candor.
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I’m so glad you posted this. I just read Anna and really enjoyed it, but all the things you disliked about this book are reasons I wouldn’t like it. Too quirky, staying with the wrong guy too long, I don’t have a lot of patience for stuff like that. So thaks for saving me some time! I’ll either skip it or read it with low expectations.
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Even though this isn’t my genre of choice, I was giving the series some serious thought because I am drowning in positive reviews of the French Kiss. How can I ignore such a wave of love??? I shall heed your warning with this one.
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This makes me so sad! I loved Lola so much. However, I can see how her personality could be viewed as over the top.
I loved her bad boy older boyfriend so for the first portion of the book I was torn on which boy she should be with.
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I’ve heard plenty of rave reviews of Stephanie Perkins’ work but I’ve not read any yet. I suppose Anna is the place to start though since many seem to agree it’s the better of the two.
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Thank you! Great review! I felt exactly the same way. I love Steph Perkins and will definitely read more of her stuff but Lola was such a disappointment. Oh well. Looking forward to Isla and the Happily Ever After.
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Sorry to hear this was such a disappointment for you – but I totally get where you’re coming from. I didn’t like this one nearly as much as I did “Anna” either, and that was down to Lola. I LOVED Cricket and San Francisco and Lola’s dads and Anna & St Clair’s roles, but Lola? meh. I agree, I didn’t really think that she deserved Cricket, either, but I wanted them to get together because I wanted Cricket to get what he wanted and to be happy.
Whatever, I’ll still read whatever Stephanie Perkins writes because OH BOY does she know how to write a love interest.
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